humane society of the united states

Today is National Bird Day! Please think of the beauty of the sights and sounds of the almost 10,000 species of birds that enrich our lives and provide a vital role in the ecosystem. In the next century, almost 12% of these species face extinction risk. Visit Born Free to learn more about what you can do to help birds!

The Humane Society of the United States estimates that in the U.S. alone, 4 million dogs and cats are killed yearly. That is a death almost every 8 seconds. Much of that is unnecessary killing that we could reduce or eliminate if we would as a society adopt instead of shop and spay or neuter our pets. Please learn more about the issue of pet overpopulation and support the HSUS and your local shelter!

Two major announcements regarding farm animal welfare provide some measure of celebration for animals in these trying times.

First, in Ohio, activists have been working to get a proposition on the ballot, much like those successfully run in Arizona and California. Instead of proceeding with the ballot initiative, Ohioans for Humane Farms (supported by the Farm Sanctuary, the Humane Society of the United States, and other animal advocacy groups) agreed to drop their campaign if the state’s agricultural industry agreed to several reforms, including a ban on veal crates, a ban on gestation crates, and other measures (which are outlined in this Farm Sanctuary press release).

Second, according to an HSUS press release, today California’s Governor Schwarzenegger signed a bill that requires by January 2015, all eggs sold in California

come from hens able to stand up, fully extend their limbs, lie down and spread their wings without touching each other or the sides of their enclosure, thus requiring cage-free conditions for the birds.

Otherwise, laying hens are kept in cruel battery cages. Imagine if you had so sit on a metal folding chair your whole life – you can’t move, you can’t stand, you can’t stretch. That’s what a battery cage is like. Kudos to Schwarzenegger for signing the bill into law.